Stalk-cutter.



No. 643,556. Patented Feb. l3

8. A. SUMMERLIN.

STALK CUTTER.

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@numlioz I 7 6t 540770761 723 No. 643,556. Patented Fob. l3, I900. S.' A. SUMMERLIN.

STALK CUTTER.

(Application filed Nov. 23, 1899.!

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,556, dated February 13, 1900. Application filed November 23, 1899. Serial No. 738,086. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SOLOMON A. SUMMERLIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kirkland, in the county of Coffee and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stalk-0uttersg and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to stalk-cutters, and more particularly to cotton-stalk cutters.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character which shall be simple of construction, durable in use, and comparatively inexpensive of production and one which will out standing stalks into small pieces.

To this end the invention consists in certain features of construction and combination of parts,which will be hereinafter fullydescribed and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved cottonsta1k cutter. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same.

In the drawings the same reference characters indicate the same parts of the invention.

Referring to said drawings, 1 denotes the main frame, which consists of the side pieces 2 and 3, mounted upon the axle 4:, supported by the ground-wheels 5. The forward ends of the side pieces are connected by the crosspiece 6, to which and the axletree the drafttongue 7 is secured.

8 denotes a frame hinged" to the rear ends of the side pieces, and 9 denotes a drum journaled between the rear ends of this frame. The drum is provided with traction-rims 10, with annular shoulders 11 of less diameter than the traction rims, and with annular shoulders 12 of less diameter than the shoulders 11 and of greater diameter than the cen tral portion 12 of the drum. The shoulders 11 are provided in their periphery with equidistant seats or recesses 13.

ltdenotes the cutters, which consist of the annular bands 15, which rest upon the annular shoulders 11 and have secured to them cutting-blades 16 to seat in the recesses 13 and are held therein and prevented from slipping.

17 denotes a Windlass mounted in bearings 18, secured to the main frame, and 19 denotes ropes secured to the Windlass and passing under the axletree of the main frame and engaged with the sheaves j ournaled therein and having their opposite ends connected to the hinged frame. Upon each end of the Windlass are secured ratchet-wheels 20.

21 denotes alever pivoted to one of the side pieces of the main frame and provided with a spring-actuated dog to engage one of the ratchet-wheels, and 22 denotes a spring-actuated pawl pivoted to the other side piece and adapted to engage the other ratchet-wheel. By reciprocating the lever back and forth the Windlass will be rotated in its bearings and will wind the ropes around it to draw the knives mounted in the drum firmly againstthe ground to cut the stalks.

23 denotes a lever pivoted to the tongue and provided with a dog 24 to engage the slotted segmental rack 25, secured to said tongue.

26 denotes a rope connecting this lever with the hinged frame.

, When the machine reaches the end of a row orwhen it is desired to move the machine from one field to another, the pawl 22 is released from its ratchet and the lever 23 is thrown forward and its pawl engaged with the segmental rack. This elevates the hinged frame and raises the drum and its knives from engagement with the ground.

' 27 denotes two arms projecting downwardly from the hinged frame in advance of the drum and serving to pick up the falling stalks that lie parallel with the axis of the drum and straighten them out and at right angles to the axis of the drum, so as to be engaged by the cutting-blades.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction,operation, and advantages of myimproved cotton-stalk cutter will be readily appreciated without requiring an extended explanation. It will be seen that the device is exceedingly well adapted for the purpose for which it is designed, and it will of course be understood that various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with the wheel-supported main frame; of a frame hinged to the rear end thereof, a drum journaled in the said hinged frame and provided with tractionrims, two annular shoulders, one shoulder of which is of less diameter than the other, the shoulder possessing the greater diameter being provided with equidistant recesses or seats, ann ularbands arranged upon the shoulders of the greater diameter, knives secured to said annular bands and seated in the recesses of said shoulders, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

.2. The combination with the wheel-supported main frame; of a frame hinged to the rear end thereof and provided with a drum, chopping-knives carried by said drum, a lever pivoted to the main frame and provided with a pawl, a segmentally-slotted rack to beengaged by the said pawl, a rope connecting said lever to the hinged frame, a Windlass journaled in the main frame and provided with ratehets at its ends, a lever having a spring-actuated pawl to engage one of said ratchets, a spring-actuated dog to engage the other ratchet, and ropes extending from said Windlass t0 and connected with the hinged frame, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SOLOMON A. SUMMERLIN.

Witnesses:

T. J. KIRKLAND, JNo. FUssELL. 

